Chiefs sign Kelce to 2-year, $34M deal
The Chiefs have signed Travis Kelce to a new two-year, $34.25 million contract, wrapping up their star tight end as they attempt to win an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press.
Kelce's deal with Kansas City includes US$17 million guaranteed for 2024 and $11.25 million guaranteed by the third day of the 2025 league year, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because those details hadn't been released.
While not disclosing the financial details, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Kelce would remain the league's highest-paid tight end, adding that it was a priority to “adjust his contract.”
The 34-year-old Kelce signed a four-year, $57.25 million extension with Kansas City in 2020, which followed a $46 million, five-year deal that he signed in 2016.
Kelce, who was chosen by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 draft, is already their career leader with 11,328 yards receiving. He needs eight receptions to reach 917 and pass Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez for that record, and three touchdown catches would give him 77, dropping Gonzalez to No. 2 on that franchise list.
Most important, Kelce has helped Kansas City win backto-back Super Bowls and three titles in the past five years.
“Every now and then you have one of these guys that are outliers,” Veach said, “and Travis is one of those players. It's not even May yet and today we had a chance to get out there in Phase 2 (of the off-season) and Travis was the first one in line.”
It's not just on the field where Kelce is a star, either.
His relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift has taken him to another level of celebrity, while appearances on shows such as Saturday Night Live have helped to make him a household name. He hosts one of the most popular podcasts across several genres with his brother and former Eagles centre Jason Kelce.